ethnicity and crime Flashcards
(8 cards)
What do ONS say about ethnicity and crime?
Highlight that black people are more likely to be stopped, arrested and imprisoned. Some sociologists argue this is because they are more likely to offend, due to poor educational achievement, dysfunctional family structure and racist stereotypes portrayed in the media. However, some sociologists they merely appear more criminal due to discrimination in wider society.
What do Lea and Young say about why black people appear more criminal?
Differences in statistics are the result of black people being discriminated in wider society. Utilitarian crime is a response to material deprivation and non-utilitarian crime is due to their frustration towards society. Believe police racism is not the main cause of this because 90% of crimes are reported by the public.
What does Gilroy say about why black people appear more criminal?
BME do not commit more crime than others, result of racist policing who act on stereotypes. Also, BME often come from former colonies where they resisted oppression. However, when they resisted racism in Britain it was criminalised.
What does Hall et al say about why black people appear more criminal?
1970s- moral panic about black people and mugging. This was because capitalism was in a crisis and they used this story to cover it up, meaning black people were not more criminal but a mere victim of capitalism. However, this made black people more unlikely to get jobs and then turn to crime.
What are three factors for black people being more criminal?
Education, family and the media
Why is education a factor for black people being more criminal?
Black Caribbean pupils statistically perform poorly in education, and therefore may find it hard to find a legitimate and sufficiently well-paid job. Meaning they are more likely to commit crime to get money etc drug trade
Why is family a factor for black people being more criminal?
Functionalists: the growing rate of lone parent families in the black community leads to inadequate socialisation, children aren’t taught correct norms and values, not taught crime is immoral.
Why is media a factor for black people being more criminal?
Media representations reinforce the stereotype that black people are more criminal. This may lead to a sfp and black people will in turn commit more crime.
